Old Slablsides! Today, March 29th, marks the 102nd anniversary of the U.S. Army’s adoption of the Colt Model 1911, .45 cal Automatic Pistol. Even more poignant to this old Jarhead, it’s the 100th anniversary of my beloved Corps adopting it as well.

The 1911, and it’s later upgrade the 1911A1, served U.S forces for 80 years; through four major wars and dozens of smaller “low intensity conflicts”, and never once did the iconic love child of the disciple John Moses Browning ever let us down. Originally adopted because the .38 cal revolvers just weren’t getting the job done against the Moros in the Philippines, it is still to this day one of the most ergonomic, well designed, and effective (read powerful) service pistols ever produced. It is such a stellar performer that the Marine Special Operations Command recently re-adopted it as the standard sidearm of Gyrene snake eaters, and it is still a favorite among IDPA, SWAT, and discerning pistoleros across the breadth of our great nation.

An interesting bit of trivia, the U.S. military received it’s last contracted order of 1911’s in 1945. The .45’s that were carried all the way until the late 80’s were all WWII or before produced pistols. In fact the pistol that I carried when stationed on Guam, while working in the Company armory after we had transitioned to the M9 Beretta, had been manufactured in 1917 for a shipment to the U.S. Army. When we boxed all of our 1911’s up for shipment back to Albany GA. I joked, with a tear in my eye, that my pistol should be “lost”. My NCOIC of course squashed my wistful dream, but 6 weeks later the paperwork came back that “my” 1911 had been a combat write off in Korea. The stories that pistol could have told! Made in 1917 for the Army, USMC combat loss in Korea, and ended up as the last 1911 carried on Guam (Hey, working in the armory had its perks. I kept on carrying that pistol long after all the other Marines had transitioned to M9’s, even after I had been tasked with teaching that damned transition course. ).

So to my old and faithful companion, Happy Birthday! Thousands of Flips, Krauts, Eye-ties, Japs, Gooks, ChiComs, Gomers, Hajis, and miscellaneous other enemies of freedom may disagree, but fuck them. You my friend were on the good guy’s side. I am honored to share my birthday with you.

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Happy Birthday! Incidentally, tomorrow I’ll be going to the range with my brother, and I’ll be thinking of this article when I’m shooting his Colt MK IV.

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March 29, 2013 22:20

Lady M-ITT™-Imperial Sniper G.L.O.R

Happy Birthday Crunch you old sod. Tho we don’t all talk much or able to get everyone together much, you,Bangie Thang and the Princesses are very much a part of our family and here’s to many more good years to come.

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March 29, 2013 22:21

Orion

Happy Birthday to you both – my Kimber Pro Carry (M1911 style) is sitting right next to me, in fact.

🙂

Orion

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March 29, 2013 22:39

LC 0311 Sir Crunchie I.M.H., K.o.E.

Lady M-ITT™-Imperial Sniper G.L.O.R says: Happy Birthday Crunch you old sod. Tho we don’t all talk much or able to get everyone together much, you,Bangie Thang and the Princesses are very much a part of our family and here’s to many more good years to come. Awwww!!!!! Thanks Lady M. But this was about my beloved 1911, not me. I… Read more »

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March 29, 2013 22:45

Thanks for the memories Crunchie, and Happy Birthday to you! The venerable M1911A1 served the Navy for a few years more. My girlfriend carried one as part of the ASF (Auxiliary Security Force) at NAS North Island in the mid-’90s. I remember a lot of sub topside watches carrying them at the D&S piers in Norfolk in the early ’80s… Read more »

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March 29, 2013 23:56

LC HJ Caveman82952

My Ruger P97DC is my favorite owned handgun,in my little armory. Let’s just say I own more than one .45

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March 30, 2013 01:18

LC Sir Clambake, Imperial Black Ops Technician, K.o.E.

Happy Birthday (slightly belated) Crunchie. I told you the story of how I found that T.A. that gave my shop permission to carry National Match 1911s as duty weapons, while the rest of the AF carried M-15 S&Ws. Well, the OSI had their OMs that were built over at Camp Bullis gunsmith shop, but anyway… The first pistol I ever… Read more »

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March 30, 2013 02:24

LC TerribleTroy

Happy birthday one niner one one and to the Crunchmeister! Never did like the M9 (grip width sucks on that double stack design)

I wish you both many more laps around the sun.

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March 30, 2013 07:22

single stack

I fired my first M1911 when I was 8 yo with my father’s help holding it. It was his Korean War sidearm; a Singer, loaded with GI ball. He came back from Vietnam with a Remington Rand he took off a VC he killed on Tan Son Nhut AB in Saigon during the ’68 Tet Offensive. He taught me to… Read more »

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March 30, 2013 08:57

Let me add my thanks to Sir Crunchie for the memories, and congrats to this fine firearm. The 1911 was the very first (and last) handgun that I ever shot. I was introduced to when I arrived at my first duty station in AK in a MID in the early 80s. Qualifying with it was kinda funny. I could not… Read more »

got a Kimber 1911 that is a sweet pistol. The 1911 model pistol just fits my hand like a glove, not so with the 9mm’s that I’ve shot. and Happy Birthday Crunch, sorry we missed you last week when we were in Ft. Lauderdale but we were a little “crunched” for time before out ship left for the Caribbean. Next… Read more »

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March 30, 2013 13:46

bruce

when i was training for the 101st we had to go to ricochet school and bounce bullets off the ground and into the targets.i ate a krait raw after i cut off it’s head with my flash supressor this was in 1968.my uncle bob who was in the 82nd, shot a german at 50 yards with his 1911 and the… Read more »

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March 30, 2013 15:03

bruce

crunchyou shoul write about all the wars that the democratics have screwed up starting with that ass hole wilson losing the first world war.

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March 30, 2013 16:16

LC DerKrieger

Happy Birthday M1911! I’ve got my Springfield Loaded on my desk as I type right now. Sure there might be handguns superior to it now, but it still gets the job done as well as anything else. Plus it’s a great companion to any AR-15 type firearm.

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March 30, 2013 16:30

LC Gunsniper

Happiest of Happy Birthdays to you, Crunch.

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March 30, 2013 17:47

The first centerfire handgun I ever shot was Grand-dad’s 1911 (not an 11A1, mind you!) that he brought home from his extended tour of France in 1918. Been shooting them ever since. Right now I have 3, and just bought another one for my son-in-law (the family’s token jarhead) for when he graduates from warrant officer school. I think every… Read more »

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March 30, 2013 18:53

LC 0311 Sir Crunchie I.M.H., K.o.E.

single stack says: It was his Korean War sidearm; a Singer, Wow, a Singer. If you still have that thing, hold on to it, it’s the rarest and most sought after of the makes by collectors. Only 500 of them were made. I had a Remington-Rand for awhile that was a WWI take home and was give to my mom… Read more »

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March 30, 2013 21:19

FrankOK

We have an aging parent (102) living with us and have a lady come in every day for 4 hours or so to keep her out of trouble – a lot like having a loose ‘coon in one’s home when she’s not supervised as she can get around much better than she can think. The sitter is about 73 and… Read more »

Happy Birthday Crunchie! Here’s your present – a photo of someone you hold in the highest esteem relaxing in the pool after a very hard day’s work!

No. Not going there.

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March 31, 2013 00:02

Delftsman3

Happy Birthday Crunchie; I really look forward to the day we can be in the same space together. Watching your girls on the range is a pure joy to experience. Show that there yet hope for the future of our Nation.

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March 31, 2013 04:05

Azygos

Crunch,

I have a Remington Rand made in 1943. It shoots better than my (now deceased) FIL Colt Gold Cup. I’ll have it until I die and probably then some 🙂

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March 31, 2013 08:57

single stack

LC 0311 Sir Crunchie I.M.H., K.o.E. @ #: 18 On my father’s death his wife sold all his guns to a pawn shop. She knew nothing about guns and just let the lot go in bulk. He had a lot of very valuable collector grade guns and they went for a pittance. After the guns were gone the will was… Read more »

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March 31, 2013 09:32

LC Sir Clambake, Imperial Black Ops Technician, K.o.E.

single stack says: The 1911 is the combat pistol, and like Col Cooper said, the 1911 is the pinnacle of combat pistol technology and the only advance since its introduction has been its refinement. The greatest up close and personal ever. MikeC says: If I ever get enough money ahead, this is ultimately the only handgun I will ever own.… Read more »

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March 31, 2013 12:27

LC Sir Clambake, Imperial Black Ops Technician, K.o.E.

I thought I was going to have to scream for brain bleach, but being the brave yet foolhardy individual I am, I checked RR’s link. It was good!

My regular carry pistol is an M1911 from Springfield Armories. I love that gun like no other!!!

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March 31, 2013 14:11

LC Draco

Happy belated, Crunch!!

I carry my Kimber CDP II or my HKs….but I have a few Mark IV Series 80’s strategically hidden around the house.

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March 31, 2013 16:43

Yasherka

Memories. The 1911A1 is the first firearm I ever shot. I was all of four years old (in 1968). Held my thumb vertically, and before my dad could stop me I touched off my first round. The slide tore off all the skin on the pad of my thumb. I distinctly remember it. Kept on shooting though after I got… Read more »

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April 1, 2013 11:07

LC 0311 Sir Crunchie I.M.H., K.o.E.

Yasherka says: My twin boys, soon to celebrate their first birthday, will follow in Dad’s footsteps as soon as they are ready. That is the greatest gift that can be given, and received. And it’s a doubles sided gift, the life long joy you give your kids, and the joy they give you when you see the wonderment on their… Read more »

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April 1, 2013 20:46

LC 0311 Sir Crunchie I.M.H., K.o.E.

Delftsman3 says: I really look forward to the day we can be in the same space together. Watching your girls on the range is a pure joy to experience. Indeed it is Delfts, I’m proud that you remember that day, it was the first day they fired a real rifle (I still owe Misha and the Heirs a huge debt… Read more »

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April 1, 2013 20:51

LC 0311 Sir Crunchie I.M.H., K.o.E.

single stack @ #:
Sounds like there was as much sentimental value in that collection as there was monetary. I hope you’ve reconciled with her, although I can imagine how hard that may have been.

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April 1, 2013 20:54

single stack

LC 0311 Sir Crunchie I.M.H., K.o.E. @ #: 33 There was more sentimental value than monetary value for all of us. We all agreed that if we had gotten our inheritance few of the guns would have ever been sold. Dad bought several guns that he kept unfired in the original box with all the paperwork precisely for their future… Read more »

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April 1, 2013 22:58

LCBren

Redneck

I was brought home some brown cooked BBQ sausages for dinner. I then clicked your link.

I cant eat them now.

One day, RR..I dont know how and I dont know when… but you are going to pay for this.